Nell K. Victorious in Acorn Stakes; R. L. Light Annexes Karl Eitel Purse: James Norris Filly Runs Mile in 1:38; Favored Gaffery Closes Big Gap in Stretch at Belmont, But Is Beaten Half-Length, Daily Racing Form, 1949-05-12

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► JOHN B. PARTRIDGE— Sent out Nell K. for her winning effort in the Acorn Stakes. Nell Nell K. K. Victorious Victorious in in Acorn Acorn Stakes; Stakes; R. R. L L Light Light Annexes Annexes Karl Karl Eitel Eitel Purse Purse James Norris Filly Runs Mile in 1:38 Favored Gaffery Closes Big Gap in Stretch at Belmont, But Is Beaten Half-Length BELMONT PARK, Elmont, L. I.. N. Y., May 11. — Nell K. carried James D. Norris Spring Hill Farm silks to a driving victory in the nineteenth running of the Acorn Stakes at Belmont Park today, reaching the end of the mile a good half-length before Foxcatcher Farms Gaffery, the favorite. Mrs. Walter M. Jeffords Adile came from far back to take third honors, seven lengths behind the runner-up and a length and a half before C. V. Whitneys Jazz Baby. Doug Dodson rode the daughter of Crowfoot — Sea Elf, by Halcyon, who paid 2.90 and stepped the mile in 1:38 over a track that was officially •good." A recession crowd of 21,535 turned out in cloudy, windy weather to view the Acorn, a race that has always been won by a good filly, and often by a great one. Favorite players put in another afternoon of anguish. Nasophar went to the front at the start of the Acorn, closely followed by Fond Embrace, Nell K. and Boomdeay, while Adile was shuffled back along the rail and Gaffery was in the middle of the pack, but in close quarters. Nasophar opened a daylight lead in the run down the backstretch, with Nell K. moving into second place under I restraint as they stepped the half in :46ls. Gaffery dropped back to eleventh place, while Jazz Baby was running ninth on the outside and Adile appeared hopelessly out of it as she was still bogged down on the rail and unable to get out. Gaffery Makes Bid Nell K. took command approaching the three-eighths pole as Nasophar ran completely out of wind, while Jazz Baby began to close ground, weaving her way through horses as her stablemate stopped. At the same moment. Gaffery began her bid, while Adile% finally swung to the outside- and began to run. Nell K. was a half-dozen lengths in the van as she curved into the stretch, but Gaffery was by no means through with the argument and cut the : Norris fillys margin with every stride. In their struggle, the leaders drew clear of the others, though Adile finished very strongly to take third money, while Jazz Baby also closed well as Boomdeay and Lithe, who I had been third and fourth at the head of the home lane, tired badly. Boomdeay finished fifth, followed by Pella, Pennymaker, Lithe, .Cheesecloth and Halcyara. with the others strung out over a sixteenth of a mile. Of the others, Green Continued on Page Three Nell K. Leads Gaffery Home In Acorn Stakes at Belmont Continued from Page One Baize and Piping By had speed in spots, while Wilhemine made a feeble bid near the quarter pole. Nell K. added 3,725 to her earnings. She had previously won the Prioress Stakes at Jamaica and the Astarita Stakes at Aqueduct, the latter as a two-year-old. Ted Atkinson monopolized the Daily Double, taking the opener on Short Brook Farms Strutaway in a whipping finish and the second on Mrs. E. L. Hopkins Comic Ann. The veteran had to employ harness tactics on this mare as she tried to drop her head in the stretch. The pair combined for a 8.70 pay-off. Alfred G. Vanderbilts Loser Weeper saved ground when most of the field went wide in the Okapi Classified Handicap that preceded the Acorn and amazed his few followers with a 5.80 pay-off. Gustave Rings Top Pilot finished a length and a half back of the winner and a length before Spring Hill Farm Master Mind, while William Helis Salmagundi, who was made the choice despite being absent for almost a year, finished fourth. Loser Weeper was ridden by Hedley Woodhouse, who shot him through on the inside at the head of the stretch, then had no great trouble keeping the son of Discovery going the rest of the way to the wire. The time was an excellent 1:11% on a track that was no better than "good." King Rhymer set the pace in this dash, while Myrmidon and High Trend were off very slowly. Nassau, Top Pilot and Master Mind went right with the leader, with Loser Weeper far back in the early stages. King Rhymer stopped abruptly at the head of the stretch, where the rest of the field went wide allowing Loser Weeper to come through on the inside. Salmagundi moved at the same time as the winner, but lost too much ground to make his threat effective.


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Library of Congress Record: https://lccn.loc.gov/unk82075800